Cover of The Fox Without a Tail

A fox once fell into a trap, and after a struggle managed to get free, but with the loss of his brush. He was then so much ashamed of his appearance that he thought life was not worth living unless he could persuade the other Foxes to part with their tails also, and thus divert attention from his own loss. So he called a meeting of all the Foxes, and advised them to cut off their tails: "They're ugly things anyhow," he said, "and besides they're heavy, and it's tiresome to be always carrying them about with you."

But one of the other Foxes said, "My friend, if you hadn't lost your own tail, you wouldn't be so keen on getting us to cut off ours."

🧠 Check your understanding

  1. How does the fox lose his tail?

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    Answer: He fell into a trap

    He fell into a trap and, in the struggle to get free, lost his brush (tail).

  2. Why does the fox call a meeting of all the other foxes?

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    Answer: To persuade them to cut off their tails too

    Ashamed of his own bare appearance, he wants the other foxes to lose their tails too, so his loss won't stand out.

  3. What reasons does the fox give for cutting off tails?

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    Answer: Tails are ugly and heavy to carry around

    He claims tails are ugly, heavy, and tiresome to carry about.

  4. How does one of the other foxes respond?

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    Answer: He points out the fox only wants this because he lost his own tail

    The other fox sees through the advice, telling him he wouldn't be so keen on it if he hadn't lost his own tail.

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